Massaging device.



No. 700,103. Patented Sept. l6, I902 c. E. MASON.

MASSAGING DEVICE.

(Applicatio nk filed Jan. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

BY I

' ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E..MASON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

lVlASSAGlNG DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 709,103, dated September16, 1902.

Application filed January 10, 1902. Serial No. 90,628. .(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MAsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMassaging Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging devices, the object ofmy invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive device by meansof which the skin of the face of the patient can be drawn out or movedfrom side to side in any direction under a powerful yet gentleapplication of force without the direct contact of the fingers of themasseur.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter by which the skin can be placed under tension substantiallyupon immediate contact of the device therewith, so that massaging can beapplied to the skin as rapidly as with the fingers and with bettereffect.

My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination,and arrangement of parts for the above ends hereinafter fully specified,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improveddevice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an endview thereof, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of an end of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a tube or cylinder of softrubber, corrugated, as shown at 2, to produce accordion folds, therebyenabling said rubber cylinder to be more readily compressed lengthwise.The ends of said cylinder are closed by metallic caps 3, having recessedflanges 4. In said recesses are received the enlarged orthickenedterminal edges 5 of the cylinder, said edges being clamped in saidrecesses by means of rings 6, thereby producing air-tight joints betweenthe caps and cylinder. From one side of the cylinder, at the middle ofits length, extends the bell-shaped mouth 7, also of soft rubber andformed integral with said cylinder. The circular lip 8 of said mouth isstiifened by means of a ring 9,0f wire, enveloped in said lip. Betweenthe two end caps 3 is interposed a compressed spiral spring 10, having a0011- stant tendency to press the end caps apart from each other and toexpand the cylinder to its utmost extent.

The device is used in the following manner: The operator presses the twoends of the device as close together as possible by means of his fingersand thumb and applies the device while thus compressed to the face ofthe patient so that the bell-shaped mouth shall be in close contact withthe skin at the point to which it is desired to apply the massagetreatment. Upon removing the pressure the coiled spring 10 immediatelyseparates the two ends against atmospheric pressure. A vacuum is thusproduced Within the device, so that the atmospheric pressure in the bodyof the patient forces the skin up within the bell-shaped mouth. Thestronger the spring 10 the more perfect is the vacuum produced.

An important feature of my invention resides in the interposition ofthespring 10 between the ends of the cylinder. This has the result ofproducing a vacuum and suctionon the skin immediately on contact, sothat massaging can take place with great rapidity.

A further important feature of my invention is the flexible character ofthe neck of the bell-shaped mouth. This enables the device to be movedlaterally while clinging to the skin, so that a lateral tension in anydirection can be imparted to any desired portion of the skin. By thisconstruction I provide a device by means of which the skin can be raisedat any desired point and moved from side to side as the device is movedalong the surface of the part to be massaged, thus enabling me tomassage the face in a very effective and convenient manner.

I claim-- l. A massage device comprising a vacuumchamber having two endwalls and a flexible cylindrical wall joining said end walls, a springacting between said end walls to separate them, a non-collapsiblesuction-mouth, a

flexible neck connecting said mouth directly with said flexible wall,substantially as de-.

scribed.

2. A massage device comprising a vacuumchamber having two end walls anda flexible cylindrical wall corrugated lengthwise joining said endwalls, a spring acting between said end walls to separate them, anon-collapsible suction-mouth, and a flexible neck connecting said mouthdirectly with said flexible Wall, substantially as described.

5 3. A massage device comprising a vacuumchamber having two end wallsand a flexible cylindrical wall joining said end walls, a spring actingbetween said end walls to separate them, a non-collapsiblesuction-mouth,

lo and a short flexible neck connecting said mouth directly with saidflexible Wall and made in one piece therewith, substantially asdescribed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing wit- 15 CHAS. E. MASON. Witnesses:

FRANCIS M. WRIGHT, B. GORFINKEL.

